Appeal No. 2007-0358
Application 10/873,477
Fig. 1 is said to provide a “diagrammatic, plan view of an embodiment of a
dish rack and spraying device as well as, inter alia, a block diagram of a control
mechanism and operating panel...according to the invention.” (Specification at 5,
lines 22-26.) In Fig. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a dish rack, 2a-2d each
denotes a spraying device, 3 denotes a blocking device, 4 denotes a control
mechanism, 5 denotes an operating panel, and 6 denotes a circulating pump.
(Specification 6, line 3 to 7, line 14.)
The examiner finally rejected the claims as follows: (i) claims 1-4 and 6-9
under 35 U.S.C. § 102(b); and (ii) claims 5, 10, and 11 under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a).
(Examiner’s Answer at 3-5; Final Office Action mailed September 8, 2005 at 3-5.)
Claims 1, 10, and 11 are representative of the appealed subject matter and are
reproduced as follows:
1. A device for cleaning items to be washed in a dishwasher,
the device comprising:
at least one dish rack;
a spraying device having specific areas, said spraying device
being integrated with said at least one dish rack; and
a control mechanism associated with said spraying device for
controlling said specific areas of said spraying device during washing.
10. The device according to claim 1, which further comprises a
sensor for sensing a condition in the dishwasher and means for at least
one of indicating a condition in the dishwasher sensed by said sensor
and communicating the sensed condition in the dishwasher to said
control mechanism for subsequent controlling of said spraying device
by said control mechanism in response to the sensed condition in the
dishwasher.
3
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